Top Ten Tuesday: 2017 Reads I Still Need to Read

This week's topic is books form 2017 that I still need to read.  This could be a long list. I get most of my books from the library and our library had a budget freeze from July to December - so there are plenty of books that I didn't get a chance to read. And I want to read them, so here goes.

- meme from The Broke and the Bookish 

Golden Globes 2018

I usually talk favorite fashion after the globes - and I will, but I also want to talk about TimesUp.

 First the dresses - these are some of my favorite looks of the evening. 

(Photo Credits: Getty Images Steve Granitz/WireImage). 

 

 

So I watched the E! Red Carpet - where they did not ask women who they were wearing, but why they were wearing black. And it was great - but they didn't ask the men the same question, which was a failure.

I love that women brought activists for their dates and how they were allowed to speak.

I love how everyone stood together in solidarity - not just for Hollywood, but for the world. 

And it's just lip service, they really want change and they're ready to fight for it. 

I went to bed an hour or so into the show - because - work.

But I watched Oprah's speech this morning - and it's amazing. If you haven't seen it yet, so watch it!

I love the movement TimesUp and I'm ready for a change and I'm ready to work to make that happen because it's important. 

Blogging Goals 2018

I make a lot of resolutions - hopes and dreams and goals for the new year.

They don't always work out, but I do try.

This year, I've been thinking about my blog. It's turning 10 this year and I can't imagine I've been blogging for that long. At the same time, I can't remember a time not blogging. 

I want to branch out a tiny bit more - still doing similar things but maybe more of those posts. 

Of course still book review - I'm a librarian after all

But I do want to talk more about my work in the library world

I want to talk more about my writing

And finally I want to talk more about crafting and highlight some crafts in my Etsy store.

I hope you continue this journey with me and thanks for reading my blog, it really does mean a lot to me!!

Blog Tour: We Are Party People

There is no party like a book party! Am I right?

About the Book:

A funny and sweet middle-grade novel about friendship, family, and overcoming shyness, perfect for fans of Wendy Mass.

WE ARE PARTY PEOPLE by Leslie Margolis (On sale October 3, 2017, ages 10-14)

Pixie Jones is a shy wallflower whose parents are the best (and most out-there) party planners around. When Pixie's mom has to leave town to care for an ailing family member, and Pixie's new friend wants help coordinating a campaign for student body president, Pixie finds herself uncomfortably, terrifyingly close to the spotlight. Pixie is going to have to test her limits to help the people she loves-- and discovers along the way that stepping outside of her comfort zone might not be so scary after all.

About the Author:
Leslie Margolis is the author of more than fifty books for young readers, including Girl’s Best Friendand two other Maggie Brooklyn Mysteries. She also wrote Boys Are Dogs, which was turned into the Disney Channel movie and the novel If I Were You Leslie lives in Los Angeles with two purple fish, one six-toed genius dog, and a few other people.

What critics are saying:

It's Party Time!

I'm a country girl and it makes a perfect party theme.

Play List:

1. Fifteen by Taylor Swift

2. She's in Love with the Boy by Trisha Yearwood

3. Wide Open Spaces by The Dixie Chicks

4. That Don't Impress Me Much by Shania Twain

5. There's More to Me Than You by Jessica Andrews

6. Trying to Find Atlantis by Jamie O'Neil

7. Bye-Bye by JoDee Messina

8.Yeah Boy by Kelsea Ballerini

9. Suds in the Bucket by Sara Evans

10. I'm Gonna Take That Mountain by Reba

Bonus: Big Star by Kenny Chesney

Craft:

Make a microphone for a lipsync battle

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/39828777927965446/

Cowboy Boot Cake:

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/396668679651914276/

Win a copy of the book!

(US only please)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Mini Review: We Are Party People

Shy twelve-year-old Pixie is the opposite of her gregarious parents, owners of the top party planning company in town. When Pixie's mom has to go away to support her ailing grandmother, it falls on Pixie to help out with the family business and step into the spotlight—and mermaid costume—her worst nightmare. Along the way she learns important life lessons, like maybe her family isn't so bad after all and that stepping out of her comfort zone might not be as scary as she thought. With a little help from her friends, she discovers her courage and faces her fears. (from the publisher)


The Good:
The Friendships
Her moments with her father
Behind the scenes at the parties
Gearing up for the Election
The parties
Blake
Ping-Pong games

The Bad:
Nitpicky but: how did her parents not realize she was an introvert?

Final  Thoughts: I enjoyed this story, loving how Pixie found her voice and discovered talents.

Cover Thoughts: Cute
Source: Book sent for Blog Tour

Come back for the blog tour stop tomorrow for my themed party with a playlist!

Blog Tour: Batman Nightwalker

About the Book:

Title: BATMAN: NIGHTWALKER (DC Icons #2)

Author: Marie Lu

Pub. Date: January 2, 2018

Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers

Pages: 272

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, audiobook

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Audible, BN, iBooks, TBD

Before he was Batman, he was Bruce Wayne. A reckless boy willing to break the rules for a girl who may be his worst enemy.

The Nightwalkers are terrorizing Gotham City, and Bruce Wayne is next on their list.

One by one, the city's elites are being executed as their mansions' security systems turn against them, trapping them like prey. Meanwhile, Bruce is turning eighteen and about to inherit his family's fortune, not to mention the keys to Wayne Enterprises and all the tech gadgetry his heart could ever desire. But after a run-in with the police, he's forced to do community service at Arkham Asylum, the infamous prison that holds the city's most brutal criminals.

Madeleine Wallace is a brilliant killer . . . and Bruce's only hope.

In Arkham, Bruce meets Madeleine, a brilliant girl with ties to the Nightwalkers. What is she hiding? And why will she speak only to Bruce? Madeleine is the mystery Bruce must unravel. But is he getting her to divulge her secrets, or is he feeding her the information she needs to bring Gotham City to its knees? Bruce will walk the dark line between trust and betrayal as the Nightwalkers circle closer.

My Thoughts: What's not to love about this book? Familiar characters, dangerous outings, new technology, a new threat, and a con. I really loved the action and the danger in this novel. I loved Bruce - mostly when he was hanging out with his two best friends. But I also loved the way his mind worked. The way he questioned everything. The way he felt about the world.  I liked the mind games and the plot twists; they kept me on my toes. If you're a batman fan, you're going to want to read this book - immediately!  I hope there are more books about batman coming soon.

Cover Thoughts: Brilliant
Source: Book sent for review

About Marie:

Marie Lu is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Legend trilogy and The Young Elites trilogy. She graduated from the University of Southern California and jumped into the video game industry, working for Disney Interactive Studios as a Flash artist. Now a full-time writer, she spends her spare time reading, drawing, playing Assassin’s Creed, and getting stuck in traffic. She lives in Los Angeles, California (see above: traffic), with one husband, one Chihuahua mix, and two Pembroke Welsh corgis.

Website | Tumblr | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram |Pinterest | Goodreads

Tour Schedule for Week One:

1/1/2018- Pen and Parchment- Review

1/2/2018- Margie's Must Reads- Review

1/3/2018- YA Book Nerd- Review

1/4/2018- Mary Had a Little Book Blog- Review

1/5/2018- A Gingerly Review- Review

You're going to want a copy of this book and luckily, you're in luck! You can win one of three copies! (US only please)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Top Ten Tuesday: New to Me

This week's topic is authors new to me that I read in 2017 - not debut authors or at least not debut authors from 2017.

- meme from The Broke and the Bookish